While church planting must be our primary mission – that mission does have many benefits for your church.

Here are the BIG THREE.

1. Mission gives life. The benefits of mission are many. Mission awakens the apostolic impulse of the people of God. Mission awakened something within me and I’ve seen it awaken others. Learning about the mission of God in the world and my place in it changed my life and it will change the lives of people in your church. (This is why I am so passionate about church planting.) I am convinced (because I’ve seen it) that if you send your very best people and resources God will provide you more. You will inspire people to take the mission seriously and thereby raise the missional temperature in your church.

2. Church planting is a great way to know if you’re making disciples. There is no better means of determining if you are making disciples then raising them up and sending them out. Want to know if your people are capable of greater generosity? Give them a big goal like funding a church plant. Do you want to know if your people are evangelizing? Send them out to plant a church. The single easiest way to know if you’re being effective is to plant a church. You will know your evangelism and discipleship is working.

3. You will be doing your part to grow the Kingdom. Whether you plant a church or a new location. Whether you plant a missional community or start a new service doesn’t matter. Start something new for the Kingdom. Plant…plant!

So you can see that while the mission may cost you, it will bless you as well.

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Church Planting = Movement

In all the places where Christianity is thriving church planting is a priority.

I’ve heard from leaders in India, Africa, and even China and they’ve told me that church planting is foundational to their movement. Leaders in these places take their call to plant new churches seriously.

Yet in North America, we have not seen any significant church planting movements emerge in recent decades.

This is not due to lack of resources. We have great leadership training platforms and lots of resources; we have great models and systems. There are conferences and workshops and organizations that offer all the tools we need to plant churches.

This prayer is attributed to St. Patrick in the Book of Armagh from the 9th Century. Scholars attest that Patrick wrote this before he confronted an Irish King with the Gospel. It’s a prayer of preparedness.

Whatever you might be facing today, know that God is right there with you.

Patrick’s Breastplate

I bind to myself today
The strong virtue of the Invocation of the Trinity:

I believe the Trinity in the Unity
The Creator of the Universe.

I bind to myself today
The virtue of the Incarnation of Christ with His Baptism,
The virtue of His crucifixion with His burial,
The virtue of His Resurrection with His Ascension,
The virtue of His coming on the Judgment Day.

I bind to myself today
The virtue of the love of seraphim,
In the obedience of angels,
In the hope of resurrection unto reward,
In prayers of Patriarchs,
In predictions of Prophets,
In preaching of Apostles,
In faith of Confessors,
In purity of holy Virgins,
In deeds of righteous men.

I bind to myself today
The power of Heaven,
The light of the sun,
The brightness of the moon,
The splendor of fire,
The flashing of lightning,
The swiftness of wind,
The depth of sea,
The stability of earth,
The compactness of rocks.

I bind to myself today
God’s Power to guide me,
God’s Might to uphold me,
God’s Wisdom to teach me,
God’s Eye to watch over me,
God’s Ear to hear me,
God’s Word to give me speech,
God’s Hand to guide me,
God’s Way to lie before me,
God’s Shield to shelter me,
God’s Host to secure me,
Against the snares of demons,
Against the seductions of vices,
Against the lusts of nature,
Against everyone who meditates injury to me,
Whether far or near,
Whether few or with many.

I invoke today all these virtues
Against every hostile merciless power
Which may assail my body and my soul,
Against the incantations of false prophets,
Against the black laws of heathenism,
Against the false laws of heresy,
Against the deceits of idolatry,
Against the spells of women, and smiths, and druids,
Against every knowledge that binds the soul of man.

Christ, protect me today
Against every poison, against burning,
Against drowning, against death-wound,
That I may receive abundant reward.

NewThing will be hosting several events for us to connect. Specifically, the House Party on Wednesday, April 26th would be a great opportunity for you and your teams to hang-out with us. It’s free but we do need you to REGISTER HERE.

In addition, I will also be doing two workshops that I’d love to invite you and your teams to attend.

Here are the details…

Workshop Session 3: How to Start a Network of Multiplying Churches in Your City

What will it take to change the spiritual landscape of your city or region? One church can’t do it alone. But a network of churches collaborating can. Join Patrick O’Connell and Tom McGehee of NewThing for a quick but comprehensive look at how to start a new reproducing network of churches in your city. As the director of NewThing, Patrick has helped leaders in the USA, Europe and Asia start new networks that in turn plant new churches. Tom has helped leaders all over the world and is an expert in collaborative learning. This will be a practical workshop to help lead pastors, networks and church planters work together to do more for the Kingdom.
Time: Wednesday, 1:00 – 2:00pm
Location: Education Building (E1) – Room 315

Session 4: Creating a Leadership Pipeline in Your Church or Multisite

Churches can only multiply if there are leaders ready to lead at new locations. Join Patrick O’Connell for a fast-paced look at how to fill your leadership pipeline so that you’re ready to grow. As the director of NewThing Network, Patrick will join with other NewThing leaders to share ways to cultivate a culture of leadership development and look at the practical skills needed for campus pastors and church planters to shepherd and operate a start-up church.
Time: Wednesday, 2:30 – 3:30pm
Location: Education Building (E1) – Room 316

Our NewThing Team will be hosting lots of other workshops so GO HERE to find out more details.